A Womans Part in a Revolution | Page 4

with the olive branch, that the
Government had sent them to the Reform Committee to invite a
delegation of that Committee to meet in Pretoria a Commission of
Government officials, with the object of arranging an amicable
settlement of the political questions. They emphatically asserted that
the Government would meet the Reform Committee half-way--that the
Government was anxious to prevent bloodshed, &c. That they could
promise that the Government would redress the Uitlander grievances
upon the lines laid down in the Manifesto, but that of course all the
demands would not be conceded at once, and both sides must be
willing to compromise. The Reform Committee met to consider this
proposal, and after long discussion decided to send a deputation to
Pretoria. These gentlemen leave with Messrs. Malan and Marais on a
special train to-night for Pretoria.
Johannesburg is quiet as ever was country town. The streets deserted.

Nothing to suggest a city girt around by a cordon of soldiers, and yet
such it is.
At midnight my husband ran in for a moment to see how we had stood
the strain of the day.
'Is the news from Jameson really true?' I asked, still hoping it was
rumour.
'I am afraid so.'
'And are those heavy wagons just going down the street carrying the
big guns to the outskirts?'
'Yes. Good-night, dear.' He was gone.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: The sufferings of this hapless crowd were acute.
Provisions were hard to obtain at the way stations. The water supply
gave out. A little child died of exposure, and the heart-broken mother
held the lifeless body twenty-four hours on her lap. There was no room
to lay it to one side. Another woman gave birth to an infant.]
[Footnote 2: The Cornish miners were politely presented at Kimberley
and other places en route with bunches of white feathers by the howling
mob. One Cornishman afterwards related that he was pulled out at
every station and made to fight. After the fourth mauling he turned
round and went back to Johannesburg, preferring to take his chances
with the Boers.]

III
January 1, 1896.--With the dawn of day I am out of bed and at the
window waiting for the cry of the newsboy.
What will the New Year bring us?
With nervous dread I opened the paper brought to my door. In large
headlines it told of disaster.
The Natal train filled with refugee women and children has been
wrecked, with great loss of life. The papers say forty have been killed
outright, and many fearfully injured. Entire families have been wiped
out in some cases. Mr. ---- has lost his wife, his sister, and three little
children. This is the result of a Boer concession. The accident was
caused by the Netherlands carriages being poorly built and top-heavy.
In rounding a curve they were swung off the track--collapsed at once
like card-houses, crushing and mangling the helpless and crowded

occupants.
The deputation to Pretoria did not leave last night, as was expected.
They go this morning instead.
My husband is greatly disturbed at the delay. He says time is all
important, and the Reform Committee's hands should not be tied while
the Boers gain time.
Reports of Jameson's meeting the enemy have been amplified. Now it
is said that fifty of his men have been killed and three hundred Boers.
Sir John Willoughby is believed to be shot.
I drove out to my home to reassure my women, Mr. Sharwood having
brought in word that the coachman Adams had almost caused a panic
by his garish tipsy account of 'what was going on in town,' and 'the
many risks he ran when taking the mistress out.'
Parker was overjoyed to see me, and so was Totsey. I found all staunch,
and ready, not only to protect themselves, but to fight anything,
particularly the valiant Adams.
On my way back to town I heard firing beyond the ridge east of us.
Some men at practice probably, but it gave me a wrench and detracted
from Adams's dignified bearing. More organising and drilling of troops.
I hear there is much suffering among them. The book-keeper, clerks,
and indoor men find the unaccustomed exposure and fatigue trying in
the extreme. But they are a plucky lot, and stand for hours on guard in
the scorching sun, and walk miles with their poor blistered feet with
pathetic cheerfulness; swooning in many cases at their posts rather than
give in; to a man, eager to fight.
Betty and I began our daily visits to the women and children at the
Wanderers' and Tattersall's to-day. At the Wanderers' alone are nearly
three hundred. The wonderful provision made for their health and
comfort spoke well for the intelligence as well as heart of the Reform
Committee, and Mr. Lingham,